Any teachers out there with one-off childcare issues? Really need some advice please.

My primary school headteacher did it last year!

Try a local childminder ? Ask a mum from nursery ?

Dont call in sick!!!! Tell them you simply have no childcare. That it is a one off that can't be avoided. They will probably assume your child is sick, just let them think that. I'm so jealous that youve made it to three without this issue!!

Potentially ask your school? I'm a HOD in a secondary school and one of my team had to bring in her 2 girls when their primary school and nursery had a snow day and we were open. We gave them a colouring book and they sat in our office while their mum taught. It wasn't ideal but it meant she could actually come in!
If they say no, you'll have to take it as unpaid leave. Does your school offer any personal days? We get 5 a year for issues just like this.

Book a one off nanny from somewhere like sitters. Many corporate jobs offer access to a few emergency childcare sessions per year so check your DH’s benefits too.

Honestly find someone to pay. Don't endanger your career by lying (when it's not even your mess) while your dh advances his.
The plus of finding someone to pay for minding your dc is that you can probably use them again the next time something like this crops up.

One of the nursery staff may do some private childcare if you ask.

This might be ridiculous and dependant on what subject you teach but could you turn it into a child development lesson, I remember a teacher doing this and im sure now as an adult it was for childcare issues. if not I'd phone in sick.

I have taught primary for 25+ years and I have never known a school allow a teacher to bring their preschooler into their classroom whilst they are working during term time!

Ha ha Baker Days started in the late 80s.

I used to do it in secondary (about 8 years ago!) Not often, but my head was a reasonable and kind man. If I had childcare issues, I could bring my kids in. Pretty sure my current head would allow it too - I’ve definitely seen staff with their kids with them at inset. Have you asked if you can bring her in?

Try care.com. I found a babysitter for a one off on there and she was great, you can read all their references and she came around to meet us before the night in question. I had to pay £10 I think to be able to contact people on there.

My mum still used the term Baker Days up until she retired (not that long ago), but she's not in England, and I've not heard the term used in England. I've taught in England and it's very different to where I'm from.

Or go in for the morning and take bad stomach pains at 12pm so you need to go home as you need toilet

Agree that it’s your DH to sort it out.

There are ad hoc babysitting services that he can use. Or ask if she can go home with a friend.

Sorry, just read the updates that you are in secondary. Call in sick. It’s only one day.

Could you ask one of the classroom assistants or lunch supervisors etc if they wanted a couple of hours pay to have your wee girl a couple of hours if there was one she liked etc?

Ask the other nursery parents and say you will return the favour. I’m a teacher and I’ve seen parents engage in complicated arrangements for half days such as taking the child to a grandparent miles away the night before as they’ll be no one to collect at lunchtime. You’d want to help a struggling parent due to illness or bereavement etc as a one off so surely there must be one parent on the WhatsApp group who would do the same. It’s worth a try. Also ask nursery staff if they’d like a couple of hours extra pay to cover 12.30-4.30.

Why is it always the women that have to sort it when it's the men who change the plans? What is he doing about it?

At my school you could get a day leave for a childcare emergency.

I appreciate it is important financially to work but he has 4 working days to get it sorted. Your job is just as important.
if he can’t (or won’t), is your head supportive? Could you take your PPA on Friday afternoon, or offer to take it as unpaid and ensure cover is there.
As a one off and a last resort, does your school have a nursery. Could your DD go there for the afternoon?

Do you know any of the other parents at nursery? I think my first choice would be to ask if one of them can pick your DD up when they pick theirs up and have them for a couple of hours until you finish.

In one school I taught in we would just make arrangements within the department for this sort of thing. So if I was in your shoes I’d ask a colleague who I knew was free if they could cover me and I’d owe them one another time. Worked well and we all benefited. At this time of year timetables are lighter with year 11 and 13 gone so there was always someone available

@ReadingSoManyThreads

Baker Days? That was a very long time ago. Schools have changed a lot since then. There is much, much more pressure on everyone and the consequence is far less flexibility for teachers.

I think the response from SLT is likely to depend on how your school is doing staffing wise, people off long term sick etc. If teachers are already doing a lot of cover in their gained time etc, then I can imagine the answer would be no? Also potentially depends on who you are due to be teaching (e.g. Y10/12, I think the answer would be no).

Definite no to taking a 3yo into a secondary school- I don't think it's appropriate or safe, and they may (rightly IMO) take the line that they have not risk assessed for such a young child being in the school. Definitely, definitely do not do it without asking as one PP suggested.

I think the suggestion of looking for a babysitter, and asking if any of the nursery staff are interested is the best option. And it should be up to your DH to organise this.

And how many decades ago was this? <sigh>